From Butterfly Farmer to Lt. Governor: John Wahl Seeks to Lead Alabama

Blair Castro and Thomas Jenkins were honored to sit down with John Wahl, former Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, as he runs for Lieutenant Governor.

A Limestone County native, Wahl started as a small business owner and butterfly farmer before rising through the ranks of Alabama politics. He went on to lead the Alabama GOP as Chairman, helping drive statewide strategy, build grassroots support, and deliver Republican wins across the state.

Now stepping out from behind the scenes and onto the ballot himself, Wahl is making the case for why his experience in business and party leadership prepares him for this next role. He has also received the endorsement of President Donald Trump as he enters this race.

We talk with him about his priorities for Alabama, what he believes the state needs moving forward, and how he responds to both support and criticism on the campaign trail.

Learn more here: https://votejohnwahl.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hello, welcome to the People's Voice Podcast. I'm Blair Castro here with Thomas Jenkins. And today it is a huge honor to have Mr. John Wall with us in the studio with us, who's running for lieutenant governor of Alabama.

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Yeah, well, look, it's actually an honor for me to be here. Um, you know, uh I I have a very different philosophy than a lot of people do on elected officials. I think they should be the servants of the people, not the ruler. So uh that's what I'm running. I'm running to bring accountability back, to to to have the service back to government. So I'm I love getting up there and having a chance to talk to you guys, but also talk to your viewers about the issues they're facing and what's happening in Alabama.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

That's very refreshing to hear. A lot of people think then that we serve them. So it's been a common theme. Um so I'll get right into it and ask how did it feel for the president of the United States to come and want you to run and then endorse you? That's really incredible.

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Yeah, I mean, you know, and I joke about this. They didn't call me before they endorse. And so I learned about it with my phone blowing up. Um and I love that. You know, that that's so Donald Trump. And he reached out afterwards um and and and but look, you know, I'm nothing special. I'm I'm a you know a state party chairman, um, grew up on a farm. I'm a farm boy at heart, right? I'm not a career politician. I don't want to be a career politician. Um and so to have the president of the United States kind of single me out and say, look, you know, run John Ron, right? Like we need people involved in government who aren't career politicians, who who aren't part of the problem, a part of the solution. Um, because we want to get back to the the family principles that our founding fathers believed. Less government, less regulations, less taxes, um, and returning control to the people. Um and it's just for me, coming from the background I came from, you know, just me and the an average everyday citizen of a farm boy uh from Lanestone County, um, to have the president of the United States recognize my commitment to those principles, to the American first values and and endorse me. It's incredible. It's an honorable lifeline, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

How does one go from butterfly farmer to state party chairman to running for the Senate governor? That's an interesting trajectory.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

It is, it is. I always joke that God must have a sense of humor because he gave me the most beautiful and the ugliest parts of life, um butterflies and politics. For the viewers out there who don't um don't know my background, I'm a lecto zoologist by trade. So I raise butterflies for zoos, botanical gardens, schools, all across all across North America. Um and I love it. You know, it's only America that that uh you know that a farm boy can follow his dreams and build a successful business, you know, in such a niche market like this. And um, and that's what I want to preserve for future generations. I want my children to have the same opportunities. You know, I believe in the American dream. I believe in in in um in being able to build a better life for yourself. And I'm incredibly blessed. Um, and that's what pulled me into the political process. I was very happy, um, you know, had a successful small business, um, you know, 50 acres right on the Elk River up in Limestone County. Um, loved my life, but it was the the passion um for for helping uh government be better. Um, the passion for for thinking that Alabama, I want to see Alabama leading the nation when it comes to conservative principles. There's no reason we should be at the back of the line on education. There's no reason we should still have a state income tax, like let's get rid of our state income tax. Other states are doing it, we can do it. And so it's this passion for making government better um and returning the focus um from government being the ruler to understanding that government in America government was created to help the people in the enjoyment of their freedoms and their liberties and um and really getting back to service and putting the people first again. And that's that's what pulled me into the political process.

SPEAKER_00 3:34

So, what are some of your biggest goals in uh if you're elected and what future do you envision for Alabama?

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Yeah, a great question. I mean, look, there is no reason that Alabama should not lead the nation in so many of the uh conservative principles that we believe in. Um and that's what that's that's my heart. Um, you know, I we I look at other states like we're on the sand that's in Florida, right? Where so often we're Alabama and you our policies are following them. Let's change that. Let's have other states follow Alabama for change. Like, like let's get out in front, let's lead. Um the our population want that. Um and and look, we have I know I'm biased. I'm born and raised in Alabama. I'm an Alabama boy all the way, but we have the best people in the entire country, uh, best people in the entire world. The people down there are hardworking, they're they're resourceful, um, they care about their children, they care about faith. Um, and and I think we have the opportunity to show the rest of the country what good leadership looks like, what strong family, you know, strong families look like, what what we can accomplish with good government at the top, going back to the basics of what makes good government. There's a reason America is special, and it's not because of where we're located in the world, geographically, whatever. It's because of the values that we believe in. Um and if we can get back to those foundational principles, and for me, they're they're very simple. You know, it's freedom, it's liberty, and it's faith in God. Um America was founded as a Christian nation. Um, we don't need to apologize about that. We don't need you, you know, there's so many politicians, you know, want to stray away from talking about God or this. And I was like, no, it, you know, let's get back to talking about why America was successful. It's because we believe in those fundamental principles. And one of the important ones is faith. Um, you know, America, the American legal system was founded on English common law. And and then English common law goes back to natural law, which goes back to God's law. We we need a foundation of what's right and wrong um in order to really um build a successful society around that. And when you take God out, you leave a hole. And I think that whole, you know, we see that filled all the time on the on the governmental level, it's filled with secular humanism and socialism, where people are looking to government to solve their problems. Um and I think the answer to that is is going back to the basics where where it's the family unit, it's faith in God, and it's strong local communities. Because then you have those intact, we don't really need the federal government for a lot. Um, and and that's what I want to get us back to you, being that you know, being dependent on the the areas where we really should be, which are those those building blocks, those pillars of society um um that that are that are being undermined by the left right now. If you look at where what's being attacked, it it's it's the church that's being attacked, it's God that's being attacked, it's the family unit that's being attacked in its local communities and trying to centralize power with the federal government. So I I want to return focus back to where it should be. And that's that's kind of my heart and I and my vision for for running for the vision of the governor. Do you have any plans or strategies to uh help us get there? Yeah, for sure. Okay, so so the lieutenant governor is a unique position in Alabama. Um there's there's four main uh things that that that they four main areas of the office. One is taking over in case anything happens to the governor. Obviously, we hope that doesn't happen. Um and I and I think the other three are are really where I want to concentrate. Um number one is they chair the state senate. So they're the Lieutenant Governor in Alabama is kind of the bridge between the executive branch and the legislative branch. And we're gonna have Tommy Tupperville coming into government's office. He's gonna bring a fresh, a bold, new perspective. And I think he needs a strong wingman in the state senate that's kind of pushing uh, you know, for those same conservative values. And um I want to be that boy, she know be that bridge in the state senate. Um the lieutenant governor of Alabama also points over 400 positions to over 160 different boards and agencies across the state. And if we're you know we're talking about downsizing government, returning control to the peoples, you know, going back to the a lot of that has to do with interacting with bureaucrats. Um, because most of the time, you know, if you you know our our our businessmen are the citizens of our state, you don't interface when you interface with government, you don't interface with an elected official, you interface with bureaucrats. And so if we really want to change the focus, drain the swamp, if you will, I think we've got to get back to we we need to fill those positions with constitutionalists who actually want less regulation, who want less taxes, and who want to actually serve the people. Um so I think that's a critical piece to the puzzle as a tenant governor. Um as far as specific like legislative priorities, uh I mean for me, number one is education. Um we we are letting our kids down every day. We've got to get the we've got to get the woke trash out of our curriculum and go back to teaching, reading, writing, arithmetic, history, civics, um, and actually giving our children the platform they need to be successful in life. And then um I'm gonna bring up a couple other issues that are important to me. Election integrity um is incredibly important. If people don't know they can trust the election system, um they they don't feel the need to vote. And I think we see that's one reason why I think we have low voter turnout is people feel like their votes don't count. Um and there is no reason you hear a lot of talk about like the Save Act on the national level, there is no reason that Alabama can't we we don't have to wait on the federal government. Let's do it at the state level right now. Let's pass legislation that says, look, in order to register to vote, you have to prove you're a U.S. citizen. This is common sense. Only U.S. citizens should be voting in Alabama elections. Period. This already should have been done. We don't have to wait for the feds, let's do it ourselves right now. Um, same thing with you know with with with illegal immigration. You know, we can we can quote unquote secure the border here. Like if our law enforcement are picking up criminal illegals, um, and we want to work with ICE. Um, I'm not I'm okay with we could even charter jets and flying back to Mexico ourselves. Um like we don't have to wait on the federal government to solve problems. The state can stand up and do it ourselves. And so um just those common sense principles in every area that I want to return back to the focus of once again putting the people first, the constitution, freedom, um, and really standing for what the values of the people of Alabama instead of the bureaucrats.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

So circling back to Tuberville for a second, just this morning I saw a headline, I think it was AL.com, and he stated that social security is a scam. Have you heard anything about that?

SPEAKER_01 9:40

No, but he's right.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Yeah, can you expound on that a little bit? Yeah, I mean, look, it's it's a it's a pyramid scheme.

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Um, right? Like I always thought that deep down, but you know, I can never hear an official come out and say it. It's a legalized pyramid scheme, right? Like basically you're you're saying the next generation pays for the last generation. Well, that works as long as you have an expanding pyramid. Um, the second you have less population, what you're basically gonna do is you're gonna leave the the people in need, um, you know, the people who put into the system are not gonna have the money to take out. And that's what we're looking at coming up for our seniors. And I think this is the government has got to stop using that money for other places. Social Security is bankrupt because politicians um have gone in and they've used all the money that should have been saved and should have been invested to earn money over the last 20, 30, 40, 50 years and they spend it on their pet projects on their pork. And and that is absolutely the almost the definition definition of a Ponzi scam, right? Yeah. They're taking your money and then they're spending the money for their pet projects instead of saving the money for for your retirement. And and look, this goes back to responsible government, and we've got to get back there. We've got to understand what's happening. The principles of the free market work and and and Social Security, when it's being run poorly, which government always runs uh programs poorly, um, leads to what we're about to face in this country, Social Security, which is people who have looked legitimate citizens who have paid in are about to get gypped. And I think it's a tragedy.

SPEAKER_02 11:08

So I wanted to ask briefly about your time as the Republican Party chairman. My background, I was 18 years old and I was a Democrat at that point in my life. Throughout the years, I obviously switched, grew up, kind of got different perspectives on things. Um, and part of the reason I did switch is because the Democratic Party, I felt was very, very far left. And if you ever took like another glance at something that was more moderate or on the other side, it was like, no, you're not in the blue wave, you're not a part of it. And I felt like their party was slowly dying because they were scaring away everybody that was sort of in the middle. I felt like the Republican Party was a lot more attractive in that way because it just seemed more sensible for many of the policies and many of the behaviors, I guess, um, from some of the officials. And, you know, I liked that when you were party chair, you seemed to focus on getting, you know, younger people and minorities and other people to join the party. I feel like parties shouldn't just you're not like fully 100% over here, then like we're gonna just scoot you out because that doesn't expand. I feel like we need to be expanding. So what are your thoughts on, you know, getting former Democrats involved? And how do you think about party purity, I guess?

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Well, well, first, um, I think the Republican Party has to accept refugees, and I call them refugees, right? But like common sense Democrats should be fleeing the Democrat Party because the Democrat Party has left common sense. Look, men are not women, women are not men, right? And they've left biological reality, they've left um economic reality. Uh they think you just print money forever and have no consequences. Um, their mothers apparently never taught them that money doesn't grow on trees. Um, and and so look, anyone with common sense has got to recognize within the Democrat Party today, this is not a sustainable part. Um, economically, socially, um there's there's no way that this that the principles they're putting um actually have a viable um leadership uh for for the nation as a whole. And so if we buy into this, we're gonna destroy our country. Um and that's the bottom line. And that's why people who care, who understand these principles, have got to get involved. Um, because if we go, if we continue the same trend, our nation isn't going, we're gonna lose. Um, we're gonna lose our country. And and then we're gonna lose it for our children and our grandchildren. So, no, I think the party has to accept Democrat refugees. Um, that's great. And and you know, you talk about my minority outreach, my my youth outreach. That's that's something that's incredibly near and dear to my heart. Um when I was elected um in 2000 and uh 2021, I'm I was the youngest chairman in the entire country, 34 years old. And um, and and the look, you know, Democrats talking about the Republican Party not being the party of youth. I think it's the opposite. The Republican Party is the party of youth. We're we're the party who want to you know keep our national debt low, where we don't want to saddle the next generation with all these problems. Um, and that's that's something that I worked very hard. You know, I worked with Charlie Kirk, um, he would've a personal friend. Um, and I love to see his, you know, the the the his efforts paying off. And then after his tragic death, I think that just reinvigorated me uh to be the voice, to be the change. Um, because I think we we all have to be involved in that process and and reach out to our young people and explain to them like, look, it is the policies of the Republican Party that best serve you. Um that that we want you to be free. We think you know how to live your life better than the federal government does. We think you know how to, you know, you you know, you have you you shouldn't you shouldn't be listening to to government being forcing you how to raise your children. Like, you know what your children need more than the government does. Um and we actually want to create a stable economic system where you can afford a house, um where you can actually make ends meet. And look, we we've got to get back to where one wage earner can support a family. Um, I think it's absolutely, you know, most people in my generation and the generation you know behind me, they're looking at they they're gonna need two people earning a living just to make ends meet. I think that's a tragedy. Um so look, it is you know, when you when you go out and you talk to young people um and and and and and explain the actual policy position and explain the issues, the Republican Party wins um every time. And so I think we need more of that engagement. We need to tell more stories, um, and we need you know, Republican leaders to to make the effort to go to campuses, go to, you know, go to young people and actually make the argument of look, look, here's here's the facts. Let's get off of personality. Um the left loves to get you bogged down in personality or this or that. We need to get past that and go to the actual issues, how it's going to affect your life and why these principles um um advance your your opportunities in life. And same thing with the minority community. Look, the Democrat Party want to keep minorities bogged down. They they want them dependent on the government system. And I think the answer, I'm looking, I'm for safety nets helping people in need, but the answer is that we help um we help people of Alabama, we help people of America be so successful that they don't need government. You know, I I think the I think especially the African American community has been, you know, the the left wants to keep them uh you know stuck with the entitlement system um because that comes with a control mechanism. And so anytime I get a chance on Act, I was like, look, I want you so free, I want you so prosperous, you don't need welfare. You don't need you don't need a check from the government because you're actually providing to your family, you're actually being successful and having a better, better life. And that's the answer. The answer is not the answer is not a a squabble over whether we need entitlements. The answer is let's get people so successful that they don't need the government.

SPEAKER_02 16:23

Yeah, absolutely. And I um going back to the young people and getting people engaged, that's like why we started this podcast, really, because uh initially we had problems with our local government, like the county and the city. I ran for city council, was not successful. Um it seems very, very hard, and it's been our frustration to get people under the age, really under the age of 50, but like I'm 38, like people in this age bracket really just don't care. But we're trying really hard to break out and show how important this is because you know, you might not, I don't like politics, I don't want to get involved, but then something happens and you go somewhere and you need something from your city or county or whatever else, and then they're kind of out of roadblock and they don't understand the process. So it's you know appreciative people like you would come out and actually engage with platforms like this or people, you know, down in the trenches, I guess, because I mean, how else do we change it?

SPEAKER_01 17:09

No, look, and that's what I face too, right? Like I'm look, I'm 39 years old. Um, and and I want to leave my state, my country, not just where with the with the prosperity I had. Um, I want to leave it stronger. I want to go back to those foundational principles. And I want my children to have an even a better and a brighter future. Um, and and you know, you know, going back to the basics, like I said. Um, but yeah, young people um who are invested in the movement, but I'm gonna say anyone, anyone who's a patriot, anyone who loves America, loves the American dream, uh, you know, loves this, this what our founding fathers called that animated contest for liberty, need to get involved, right? Because if we don't, if good people um don't get involved, we condemn ourselves to be ruled by Titans. Um and so I applaud you for running for city council. Um we need more people to get out there to take that step, to, to fight for, you know, fight for their ideas. And and look, sometimes you don't win, um, but you still push, you know, you were still able to talk about the issues that you believed in. You were still able to be, and then, you know, and this this podcast grew out of that, right? So this is where I'm selling people. Look, not everybody wants to run process, not everybody can run process, but everyone has a a vehicle for influencing um society. And I think that's what we need. It doesn't take a majority, it takes a tireless minority who, and our founding fathers understood that, it takes a tireless minority who are not afraid to be bold, speak truth, um, be politically incorrect, and just say, hey, look, this is common sense. These are these are the facts. Um, and we're gonna stick with them no matter what, and we're we're not gonna be afraid to talk about what what things really are.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

There seems to be a lot of infighting in the Republican Party right now. What would you say to that and how how can we address that and kind of squash it?

SPEAKER_01 18:45

Yeah. I mean, look, first thing, we have to understand we've had a united enemy. Um and this is far bigger than a political battle. Uh, I think if we're honest about it, this is a spiritual battle. Um, I'm very much a man of faith. I'm I'm a committed Christian. Um and and I think this this is it's look, this is this is absolutely a fight between good and evil, um, between freedom and slavery. And I think we have to recognize it in those terms and and how we know that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Right. Um, you know, that's a biblical concept. And so I think like, look, we can we're family. If you're on the conservative side of the aisle, we should all be able to treat each other with respect. Um, understand we have a common enemy with the socialist, radical leftists who are trying to destroy this country. And and even if we have disagreements, like, look, let's settle like a family would. Let's let's be respectful to one another. We're gonna have areas where we disagree, but let's have those squabbles as much as possible, be behind closed doors and have a united front when we're out there fighting um the people who are really the enemy who are trying to destroy this country.

SPEAKER_02 19:45

Absolutely. Um, I wanted to ask also about you were mentioning some of your background and your farming background, which I think is really cool. Um, I'm actually more afraid of butterflies than any of politics sometimes. Anything with antenna that can like fly in my ear potentially, I get really creeped out by. And I've always said I wanted to go to a butterfly farm to like face my fears and like sit there with them and like get over it.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

That'd be a good video.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

They really kind of creep me out, but I think they're beautiful. I want to I want to face it. Um talk um a little bit about your family, your background, uh, your personal life, I guess. Because for those that might not know about your family.

SPEAKER_01 20:19

Yeah, for sure. So so I I grew up on a farm in in rural Lynstone County. I'll tell you, look, you learn a lot about life um growing up on a farm. Um, you know, for me, I you know, you you learn the values of hard work. You know, you come home from school and you don't you don't play video games, you go, you go work. Um and and you know, now I'm so thankful for that upbringing, because so many people in my generation don't know how to work. Um and they don't have a they don't have ambition. And so I you know, I love the fact, you know, just just um I was one of eight children, um seven boys and one girl. And so that's all I I like to think that's also where my um my great debating skills came from. If you're one of seven boys, you've got to be able to make a good argument, make it fast.

SPEAKER_00 20:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Um but uh being on that, yeah, I grew up look very rural, um, very rural uh limestone county, um almost you know, very conservative family, almost like I was growing up in the 50s. Um and I love that upbreaking, you know, the the the the the dependence on faith, you know, the importance of that in life, the hard work, um, and really just the desire to make life better. Um, you know, you know, had a had a great had great parents who really instilled in all of us children, you know, the the desire to help people in need. And at the end of the day, that's that's that's what drew me to to to politics, to government. I don't want to say politics, so I really don't like politics. I like public service, you know, actually serving the people and putting them first. Um, and so you know, I I love that upbringing. Um started my business when I was still in high school. I remember I was actually at a uh on a field trip. I as a farm boy, my favorite um my my hobby was raising butterflies. Um I you know, that was that's what I did for fun. Um I just always had a love for that. I I you know you know God put a lot of that in my in my heart. Um and so I remember the first time I was I was at a Exhibit was at Huntsville Botanical Gardens. They had a butterfly exhibit. And I asked them, they had some butterflies I had never seen before and asked them if they sold butterflies. Um they were like, no, we buy them. And when they said they could buy them, the entrepreneurial spirit in me was like, if you buy them, you can buy them from me. So I set up a meeting with with their CEO, um, and they were my first customer um and and started my business when I was still in high school and never looked back. Um and I've been very blessed. You know, it's you know, butterfly farming is not one of the careers where you're gonna be a multimillionaire, but I get to do what I love. And and I'm very blessed to be able to do that, make a good living um in one of the most unique and interesting professions, um, leptzoology. Um, so I love it. Um and um just like I said, kind of from there, you know, was happy uh, you know, working on the farm, um, and then got drawn into the political process as I saw what what government does um and how it and how you know the over-regulation and the over-taxation and and and you know more and more encroachment into our daily lives during COVID, you know, thinking they knew what what should be able to make our health decisions for us, like the whole nine yards, just really the perspective I had like, look, I've been incredibly blessed and I want to I want to turn around and be part of the process to fix the problems where where my where where my children and grandchildren can also be incredibly blessed with the with the um with the freedoms and liberties that America was founded on.

SPEAKER_02 23:25

I liked what you said earlier too about like how the common law was actually based on like natural law and God's law. Like we really do need leaders who have those type of values and who aren't willing to like sink to the lowest of lows and aren't willing to like attack the public when they question things. I think we also need leaders who are willing to accept criticism and conversation and not just automatically like shut people down sometimes. Um so I like to think that there's a moral guide somewhere in us.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

Well, and that that then that's the perspective, right? Because if we if we understand what government is, um it it it helps us. I I think one of the things we're losing that's a society. Um, and this is another area of the education system has got to be better about teaching um, you know, what makes America special. Because it really was America is special because we understand that our rights come from our creator and not government. Look, as much as I am a constitutionalist, as much as I love the United States Constitution, at the end of the day, it's just a piece of paper. Um, but what it what it says, what it what it understands is it understands that that human rights come from God and not from government, and just guarantees that our form of government is going to recognize those God-given rights. And I think that's the difference between good government and bad government. The the government, you know, um good government recognizes that it should be upholding those fundamental principles of freedom and liberty and and keeping justice within the system for the people under God's um ordained authority.

SPEAKER_00 24:53

Aside from radical left, we also have another com common enemy in things like China buying up our farmland and controlling our food sources and stuff. How can we fight back against that now?

SPEAKER_01 25:05

Look, I think that's an incredibly important question. And look, if we're honest about it, uh China is a great greatest global threat. Um and and we created it. Uh, you know, I look, there's so many things where you can point back and look at why bad policies have real world consequences. China is a great example of that. You know, in the 90s, Bill Clinton gave China a favorite nation trade status, um, and and you know, we started losing our manufacturers up in the shift of power. And so, you know, some of what I'm about to talk about here is not as much on the Alabama level, but I think, you know, using the influence I have on the national level, you know, they have been endorsed by Donald Trump, um, you know, have an open door at the White House, and and I know they have the same desire. Like we've gotta, we've gotta create, we've got to bring manufacturing back to America, back to Alabama. Um I was talking about getting rid of the state income tax. I think that's something that would help our manufacturers, you know, you know, be more desirable to increase manufacturing back to back to Alabama, but back to America as well. Um and we've got to get the balance. You know, a lot of people are very negative towards Donald Trump for for his tariff um decisions. And look, I'm not saying every every decision on the tariffs is perfect, but what I'm telling you is right now we overtax and we over-regulate our U.S. companies. And then foreign companies are able to manufacture without those over-regulations, over taxation. And then we wonder why we don't have American-made product. And so changing that focus and getting back to cutting regulations and cutting taxes in Alabama on the national level, America, that's what we've got to do. We've got to create an actually fair playing field for our American companies and for our Alabama companies, because right now on a global level, we're actually playing at a disadvantage. Um, and so I think advocating that's the number one thing. Look, money talks, especially globally. And and the the best thing we can do to curb China's influence is to bring power, bring jobs, bring money back to America. Um, and that and that that will lessen their global market share and increase ours.

SPEAKER_02 27:01

I like to see Alabama become the freest state too. You were talking about in comparison, like I'm from Florida and we're the free state of Florida. Yeah, and it's true, like he did a good job, but I think, yeah, we can we can get better.

SPEAKER_01 27:12

100%. Like like I I was actually um I know Ron DeSantis. Uh he's uh you know, uh I've met with him several times, and and I'm honest, apologetic. Last time I met with him, I was like, look, man, I'm going, I'm running for legendary governor, and um my goal is to have Alabama be more conservative than Florida. Like we're gonna we're gonna beat you. I want you following us instead of us following you.

SPEAKER_02 27:31

I agree, especially around the COVID stuff. I'm like, that was like one time I was really glad to live in Florida. I do like living in Alabama better, though. I think this is like a really great state, but yeah, we we can be freer. So I appreciate you fighting for that.

SPEAKER_01 27:43

Well, look, the people of Alabama, uh, you know, the vast majority uh of the people in Alabama want this bold leadership, right? And that's what I hear when I'm out traveling the state. People are tired of career politicians who just want to protect the status quo and who aren't willing to shake up and and look for what's messed to the people in the state. Um and that's why I'm running. Uh look, I I'm unapologetically the outside, uh the outsider, the conservative outsider. Um, if you look at my financial contributions, um in the last few months I've had one pack donate to me. My my my biggest opponent, 90% funded by special work security attacks. Thanks. Um, and that's because they know what I bring. I look, I'm gonna bring up a a a bold perspective that does not back down, that does not surrender to the left, and that's gonna put the people of the state first.

SPEAKER_02 28:26

Well, thank you. Can you tell everyone where they can find more about you and contribute?

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Yeah, oh, I love contribute. Um I see that joke in the way. Um, I mean, I do think it's important that we all get invested, whatever that is. Um, and and the first thing, like like I always I always say there's three things you can do. If you know, if you you know, if you want to invest in in me, and look, and that's humbling, because I know that there's a lot of good people running for office, and if people want to take the time, I mean definitely check out our website, votejohnwall.com. Um, and we're all all major major social media, John Wall for Lieutenant Governor. Um, but the first thing I would ask is for prayer. I this you know it goes back to this, is a spiritual battle. And I am a man of faith and I cover people's prayers um uh uh because I that's the most important thing in my life. Um and then I'll yeah, talk to your friends, let them know about this race. Um I always joke, you know, we're I'm a Christian, um, and you know, you there's seven candidates running for lieutenant governor. My name is John Wall. Wall is the I'm the very last person on the ballot. And and um, you know, we're Christians, and the last shall be first, right? So when you're voting, do it at the last name. Last guy running for lieutenant governor.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

Well, thank you so much for joining us today. It really means a lot that you would come out here to Gulf Shores and sit down with us. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 29:34

No, I have absolutely enjoyed it. Um always a pleasure. And look, let's let's come I'll come back as Lieutenant Governor, let's do this again. All right, talk about what we can do to improve the coastal area as well, because there's so much potential here, so much opportunity for for for the southern uh you know the the the the Bay Area. And um, I want to be part of that, fighting for the people in this area. Sounds good.